CONGENITAL UTERINE ANOMALY-BICORNUATE UTERUS WITH SUCCESSFUL PREGNANCIES OUTCOMES IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL, SOUTHERN NIGERIA: CASE SERIES
FELIX CHIKAIKE C. WEKERE *
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Nigeria.
PAUL L. KUA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
LEESI SAPIRA-ORDU
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
SOTONYE ASIKIMABO-OFORI
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
PRECIOUS K. GBENEOL
Department of Health Services, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
ROSE S. IWO-AMAH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
LEWIS B. LEBARA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
SANDRA U. IBEABUCHI
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
SOKEIPIRIM E. IKIROMA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
PEACEBE S. ABERE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
LEZIGA D. NDII
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
GLORY P. A. BRIGGS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Bicornuate uterus, a class IV Mullerian anomaly results from impairment in the fusion of the Mullerian duct. It is associated with both normal and many obstetric complications. We present two rare cases of bicornuate uterus with successful pregnancy outcomes among Nigerian ladies. The diagnoses of the bicornuate uterus were made incidentally during a routine antenatal ultrasound scan in their first pregnancies. These were confirmed intraoperatively and the patients were notified.
In the first case, the foetal head occupied the cavity of the left horn and the breech in the cavity of the large right horn while in the second case, the right horn was empty and the foetus was in the left horn. These women with bicornuate uterus carried their pregnancies to term and had elective repeat caesarean sections with favourable foeto-maternal outcomes. The mothers and their babies are alive and doing well.
Overall, the ladies had two and four successful pregnancy outcomes respectively. Women with a bicornuate uterus can achieve successful pregnancy outcomes despite the obstetric challenges of the anomaly. Thus, the index cases highlight that it is practically safe to forgo metroplasty in bicornuate uterus, in particular, asymptomatic women that had achieved successful pregnancies.
Keywords: Uterine malformation, anomalies, mullerian, bicornuate uterus, RSUTH